How do I opt out of Google Analytics in Safari?
If you are looking for a Google Analytics opt-out option in the Safari browser, you should carry on reading. The post might not be very long but it contains step-by-step instructions for opting out of Google Analytics in Safari.
Opting out of Google Analytics in Safari is all about installing a Safari browser Extension.
If you landed here but were looking for the Chrome or Firefox solution, you should bounce over to here.
If you landed here directly and want to learn more about the wider question, you should go and have a look in the previous post.
If you have arrived here after following one of the links in the previous post, you’re probably in the right place.
Starting the Safari opt-out Process.
First, you need to find the “Get Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on” button. You can use the link or you can click on the image below.
At this point, it’s simple. You probably don’t need me to tell you but you should be clicking on the blue button. The blue button takes you to the “Terms of Service” page where you should click on “Accept and install“.
At this point, a browser pop-up will ask you if you would like to allow downloads on “tools.google.com“. I am assuming that you would like to allow downloads, so click on Allow and let the download start.
The download starts and, at the same time, the Safari installation instruction panel appears.
The download doesn’t take long, it’s only about 5 MB. Click on Downloads in the Dock and when you can see it, click on the GoogleAnalyticsOptOut_1.0.1.dmg file.
Just one click will do the job. The Google Analytics Opt Out pop-up will pop up and then you can drag the application into the applications folder.
Now, double click on the applications folder, and that will take you to the … applications folder.
Once in the Applications folder, double click on the Google Analytics Opt Out application … and watch nothing happen!
See Point 4 – nothing’s meant to happen.
Now, just to be sure, restart Safari. Just to be even surer, maybe even restart the mac. Up to you.
But … you’re not done yet.
Don’t get caught out – like I did – by not following the instructions. Make sure that you don’t forget to do the last bit.
Completing the Safari opt-out Process
Whilst doing the double clicks does install the Google Analytics opt-out extension, it does not activate it! There’s a box that you need to tick. It’s obvious once you know about it.
Navigate to the Extensions tab under the Safari Preferences, look for the Google Analytics opt-out extension and tick the box.
That’ll do it.
One final point.
The add-on is designed to prevent the JavaScript sending ALL browsing data to Google Analytics. It works on all websites so the add-on is not just going to affect your pages. Any page monitored by Google Analytics will include the same bit of JavaScript so when the box is ticked, the opt-out add-on will prevent ALL analytic data being sent to Google Analytics.
I installed the Google Analytics opt-out add-on because I could see the impact my browsing was having on the page view analysis. The problem was that I couldn’t tell which of my pages were popular with visitors … because all my pages were popular with me!
The fact that I was landing on pages was hiding what the visitors were doing.
Installing the opt-out has changed everything for me. I can now see for sure that nothing is happening … ? Early days though.
This is the basic approach to a Google Analytics opt-out. I think I have covered most of what you will need but if you need a bit more, there’s always the Google Help Page.
